Crystal River current. [volume] (Crystal, Colo.) 1886-18??, 1887-06-04
THE suITANs TREAsURE-HoURE.


Pearls, Kubies, and Emeralds-Jew-
eled 1'urbans.
All have heard OF the richness or the
treasury of Constant,nople. but one
must see it to believe in its beauties.
writes a, correspondent of 1he San
Francisco Chronicle. Quite ccremo-
ny is necessary before admttance is
gained. We were about twenty, and
when we stood before the great doors
nearly AS many soldiers ranged them
selves in two lines before us. A pasha
must be called to apply the great key,
kept SO carefully in $ iken wrappngs
and also must he be the only one to
break the seal OF the inner doors, as
that is kept TO record the entrance
When all this had been performed and
the doors swung back on their ponder
Gus hinges, we with us much so!emnty,
filed in and the faithful guards with us
faithful because they SO closely fol-
lowed us from spot to spot. As we
entered our eyes first rested on the CEN
trail object of that low, small room-a
thorne so covered with pearls. rubies.
advance close to it in order to see of
what the foundation was made. This
we saw to be red enamel but at Little
distance it scarcely showed. We want
ed to question the reality OF all those
pearls, but dared not. though suppose
the attendants would not have under
stood a word. This is n Persian throne,
taken in some ancient warfare; and, in
fact, most of these things here were OBJ
tanned in that way. Our attention was
next given to the contents of the glasses
that occupy the walls of the room. All
have heard OF the bowls and plates of
pearls, topaz. etc.. and doubtless. too.
of the pearl embroidery but few can
imagine the richness OF many other nu-
merous things; of a cradle of gold, set
in diamonds SO br liant as TO appear
like s. sol d one, except for the occa-
sional relief by an amethyst or ruby.
Then here are saddleclotils and hang
ings worked in gold and silver until
some of them appear sol d. vet all are
bright with precious stones.
Fine ornaments they would make.
but to think of tlieir ever having been
used, and still the wear on them proves
that to be the case. and then there is
so much of it. Near them we can SEQ
the old daggers, swords and spears,
with hits so ieweled us TO be nearly
covered. In the room above this is Il
display of arms. muskcts, guns, sa-
bers.. and all the implements Of ancient
warfare in their various forms. In a
room adjoining the lower one the GEN.
trail feature is Il globe-like case full of
collection of gold and silver coins. all
of different stamp and value. What a
study is here. if they would only allow
one time. but Il close examination
would raise their suspicious and no
doubt they would think we intended to
fake possession. Around this again
are arranged cases full of u variety of
treasures. jewelcd dishcs-a cup being
perhaps entirely hidden on the outside
with emeralds AMI rubies or platter
trimmed with amethyst. Here. too,
are clocks of a peculiar workmanship.
showing forth sailing ships, and
watches of immense size with cases
rich in stones. Fully as interesting is
the old. old china of antique design.
The most attractive feature of the next
room is a small gold obelisk. some four
feet high and covered with liieroglyph-
les. 1t is a very interesting piece of
work, but we all We're inclined to put
a question mark after the statement of
its solidity. The cases here arc also
full of jeweled art Giles. Fine wells are
heavy with rubies, and elaborate hang
ings are wrought with pearls and emer-
aids. Saddle cloths and rich draperies
tell of the wealth of ages ago.
Above this room are represented those
different sultans who accumulated ali
this wealth. Each one beginning with
Mohammed H.. conquerer of Constan-
tinople. shows the dress of his time;
each one seemed to wish to outshlne
his predecessor. and SO all the long
flowings robes are of the richest Sin,
satin. or velvet. f ther the brocade is
larger. the trimm NJ finer, or the cut
more graceful. so that not one of them
appears alike. The hits of their belt
Ell daggers are gorgeous with precious
stones. but by far the mot conspicuous
part of their dress and the most dis
tinguishable is the turban.
All but one are white, vet differ
greatly in hight. Width. material, or
shape. Some are two feet high and
others that broad. and the great folds
wound about them appear even heavier
than they are. In each one is a large
diamond ornament in the shape of flow
ers and peculiar designs, and altogeth-
er they are rather richly draped dunn
mics. The last one representing the
grandfather of the present sultan. is
clothed in French custom, though of
peculiar cut. He was first to introduce
The red fez and his pantaloons are also
red. but still he looks quite modern
compared with others. In this same
room are more guns and also another
elaborate throne. The chief feature of
this one is the large emerald suspended
above it, 1t is the size of mans two
fists, and is said 10 be genuine. though
it seems hard to believe. There is
another nearly as large in the first room
we visited, but it is cracked and mar
red. and if cut would probably not form
one stone of extraordinary size. There
are four small. low rooms full of these